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Rich Township
High School District 227
20550 S. Cicero Avenue
Matteson, IL 60443
Telephone: 708.679-5800
Fax: 708.679-5733
www.rich227.org

Date: April 2020

To: Board of Education

From: Dr. Johnnie Thomas
Re: Executive Summary (Confidential)

Communications

In March 2020, the Communications Department at Rich Township High School District 227
compiled articles for the March 2020 Newsletter, worked jointly with Global 360 Marketing to plan
the announcement of new district initiatives, hosted its introductory Community Relations
Committee meeting, and collaborated with Educational Services and the Business Office to develop
and distribute multiple crisis communications documents in response to the coronavirus (COVID-
19) pandemic. The Communications Department also collaborated with the Donovan Group and
Global 360 Marketing to execute several video projects in response to the COVID-19 crisis.

The Communications Department began identifying stories for the March/April 2020 newsletter in
February and March 2020. The newsletter content included student highlights, staff highlights, and
new district initiative information. When Governor Pritzker announced the closure of all Illinois
schools beginning on March 17, the newsletter content was revised to share the most important
information during these ever-evolving times. In collaboration with Global 360 Marketing, the
Communications Department created a content map to effectively communicate issues that concern
the future of District 227, including, but not limited to: 2020-21 boundaries, instructional and
athletic program changes, new district mascot, how COVID-19 will affect the district, and other
relevant information. These messages will be included in the upcoming newsletter. Layout and
design work will be completed by Global 360 Marketing. Additionally, in collaboration with the
Business Office and Educational Services, the Communications Department is working to finalize
documents and key information to be included in the Transition Guide for our feeder schools.

Working closely with the Educational Services and the Business Office, the Communications
Department distributed several emails, robocalls, text messages, and social media posts to notify
families, staff and other stakeholders of district changes related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Emails
were sent to stakeholders with information regarding e-learning/remote learning, food service,

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PARK

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER/EDUCATOR